Aug. 12, 2012
05:33 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
05:36 pm JST

just-a-bigguyAUG. 12, 2012 - 05:25PM JST
Proud of your heroic actions! Japan is unwelcome in asia and resentful in asians! This is another bravo actions since the termination of military intelligences with Japan! Keep that spirits going and this is essential to undermine for the US,Japan, Rok alliances

Thank you "just-a-bigguy" - You will be pleased to know that Japan is moving their country over to Europe to join the European Union.

BTW: Hope you are getting enough food in North Korea these days, otherwise you won't be that "big guy" for much longer. Or are you just compensating for something else?

Aug. 12, 2012
05:38 pm JST

One of the most immature, time-wasting and dumbest international incidents ever... This country has a serious complex. I am pretty sure they still throws blows in cabinet meetings when they don't get their way...

Aug. 12, 2012
05:57 pm JST

This article is basically a blog piece, they didn't even bother to do a proper poll and now they claim a vast majority of SK support the actions. They probably aren't wrong in the conclusion, but why put this out without explaining the Japanese side or an actual poll?

Aug. 12, 2012
06:03 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
06:13 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
06:13 pm JST

"The South’s Internet users Sunday said he had nothing to apologize for.
“What inquiry? IOC investigating into the matter itself is siding with Japan"

This is remarkable, but typical of the huge-chip-on-the-shoulder Korean nationalism BS we keep reading lately.
I hope this only reflects on internet posters and not the position of the Korean Olyumpic Comittee.

Aug. 12, 2012
06:17 pm JST

As I posted in another column under the Korean/Japanese dispute over the Tateshima/Dokdo islands, I live right behind the South Korean Embassy here in Tokyo. I have just returned from yet another walk up to the Embassy to see what was going on. One thing being blared through the loudspeakers by Japanese rightists is the Olympics issue, as stated in the above article. The rightists were yelling that the Olympics were not the place to voice such opinions, and they said the South Korean soccer player should have stayed home ... as well as all those supporting him on this issue.

And as I said before, it was quite noisy in front of the Korean Embassy, which was blocked off by Japanese police.

Furthermore, it was posted in another column by someone else that the Japanese rightists in those six or seven noise-producing vans are old men. Nope. Not true. At least not this time. They were men in their 20s, 30s and possibly 40s.

And, as said before, there was no violence. Only noise. And a tremendous traffic jam on Shinjuku-dori.

Aug. 12, 2012
06:31 pm JST

Roflmao. A Korean football player waving a pro Dokdo banner is the end of the world. Some of the comments here have been rather rude if not downright racist.

"insecure Korean"

"insecurity sprouting from an inferiority complex"

"inferiority complex"

"korean kindergarten" (nice spelling)

"huge-chip-on-the-shoulder Korean nationalism"

Very uncivilized to accuse an entire nation of such things. Even more pathetic when you realize that what the soccer player did wasn't even that big of deal. OMG he waved a banner that said Dokdo was Korean. Call the cops now. lol

Aug. 12, 2012
06:50 pm JST

Hope Nihonjins have the stones to back those cabinet ministers heading to Yasukuni. Call it patriotism, nationalism, racism, bigotry....such takes many names based on perception. I'm inclined to call it patriotism and it is what it is.

Aug. 12, 2012
07:12 pm JST

So, Korea's addition to to the Olympic pantheon has been throwing a badminton match and getting kicked out, a graceless and immature action on the soccer field which also demanded censure, and let's not forget the Roy Jones debacle which virtually ensured they would never host the Olympics again. Well done. Like it or not, these are the things people remember.

Aug. 12, 2012
07:25 pm JST

The South's Internet users Sunday said he had nothing to apologize for.

All internet users generally say what they want to say without responsibility. Can't easily believe all messages. If most Koreans think he had nothing to apologize for, no apology at all to IOC, Korean players would not willingly be invited to international games in the future.

Aug. 12, 2012
08:07 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
08:15 pm JST

Carolingium: The problems is not the ROCKS it is under the rocks and the history of both the countries with each others,
the solar aim of both the countries is the sea water and energy resources under it. The only way is to set on the table and resolve the issue otherwise such events will happen time and again and the politicians will exploit the situation to divert attention from the real issue in their home countries.

Aug. 12, 2012
08:17 pm JST

Don't bite the hand that feeds you now South Korea.If these attitudes continue, your hallyu wave will become a mere hallyu ripple and what will you do then? Japanese may just start to look for something else to waste money on and you won't be able to afford to maintain "your" island.

Aug. 12, 2012
08:48 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
08:48 pm JST

This guy broke the IOC rules and he should be banned from Olympic games forever. If Korean Olympic committee or any official government support this law breaker, they also should face same consequence. Not surprise, for what to expect from Korean supporters who express their bully attitude! Regarding the island, The ICJ should decide this matter.

Aug. 12, 2012
09:38 pm JST

He may be now regret about his behavior. He must be so filled with adrenaline so he might not be aware of he was violating the international Oylmpic regulations about not admitting whatsoever political show-up. Whatever his intentions might be, it seems that the sign of " Dokdo belongs to Korean peninsula " was handed over by one of the crowds.
It was a potty that he was banned not only from the podium at the ceremony, he was banned at arriving ceremony in Korea too.

Aug. 12, 2012
09:38 pm JST

One could almost get the impression that the Korean team was playing for an extra medal for overall poor sportsmanship that someone told them would be given at the end of the Olympics.

Just a puerile stunt by a drooling right wing nationalist lucky enough to be allowed to embarrass his country in this way.

Interesting however to hear the latest - the Korean football federation is "retaliating" against Japan (not that I think Japan had anything to do with any of this) by protesting to the IOC about rising sun flags in the stands among spectators watching the games. I thought the issue was of poor sportsmanship of one of their athletes... but whatever.

What I'm interested to know is - the team was of course playing for their lives because Korean olympic medal winners are exempt from military conscription. So this nationalist guy, having actually helped the team play the tournament and win the medal then loses his medal by pulling this stunt. Question - does he still get his exemption from military service?

If not, they could perhaps reward his patriotism by stationing him on Takeshima for the next two years - since he seems so fond of the place.

Aug. 12, 2012
09:45 pm JST

And Japan would back any one of its nationals for doing the same thing. Just look at the reaction to criticism of its whaling or anything else and you see people who have no interest in whaling or what have you backing it 100% because they consider it 'Imperialism' or an attack on culture. Pretending this is unique to SK is simply stupid, and people are simply martyring the guy by getting upset. His sign was inappropriate, though factually correct.

Aug. 12, 2012
09:49 pm JST

Hikozaemon: "One could almost get the impression that the Korean team was playing for an extra medal for overall poor sportsmanship that someone told them would be given at the end of the Olympics."

And one could equally say the Japanese media is simply bitter and upset at the loss to their rivals, and that Japanese fans are chewing on those bitter pills that are so hard to swallow. There's a reason why it's a bitter rivalry, and while Japanese players probably wouldn't have held up the same kind of sign had they won (which they didn't), there would be no end to the nationalism here. Already a lot of people are talking about the volleyball win as though it justifies the loss in soccer, and bla bla bla.

"What I'm interested to know is - the team was of course playing for their lives because Korean olympic medal winners are exempt from military conscription."

The idea of avoiding mandatory service was introduced later -- and the spokesperson for the team said it was not an issue and they didn't want to play for that, but for the game, the team, and the nation. They weren't playing to avoid conscription, so don't twist it as such.

"If not, they could perhaps reward his patriotism by stationing him on Takeshima for the next two years - since he seems so fond of the place."

Aug. 12, 2012
09:55 pm JST

Smith - don't patronize me. The lengths thousands of Koreans go to in order to get out of military service (and why not, who wants to be in a war with the DPRK at any moment?) is well known, and so they offer this to the under-23 soccer team - OF COURSE it is an added incentive. It is basically dodging a 3 year jail sentence. Great for them - I'm not criticizing it at all. Just pointing out, for any human being not planning to sign up voluntarily anyway, it is a nice added bonus.

So what do you think - no medal, no exemption? Perhaps as you say - he doesn't care either way and would be happy to say goodbye to his girlfriend and family and sit on Takeshima for the next 3 years.

Aug. 12, 2012
10:23 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
10:36 pm JST

It's wrong to punish the entire country or Korean Olympic team for the inappropriate actions of one. Let the IOC and Korean Olympic Committee deal with this issue and lay it to rest.

Mass media types on both sides are just looking to meet their daily quota of BS. Let it die down, the Olympics are almost over and no one wants to have them leave a bad taste in their mouths because of the actions of one YOUNG probably naive athlete.

Aug. 12, 2012
10:45 pm JST

Sad that one of the few non-political events that the world recognizes was used for such purposes. It is especially dangerous when "nationalistic" feeling is at its height when such as during the Olympics, only because the Olympics are based on national competition with spectators more concerned about national pride rather than the achievement of the participant.

Either way the decision went, it would have brought the issue of the island to the forefront.

However, the reaction of the S. Koran people if the survey data is accurate and reflect the real feelings of the people, then it can become extremely dangerous not just politically but militarily. A united S. Korea, Japan and USA is the only check on China and N. Korea at this time. There is a naval exercise now in process with all 3 nations in Hawaii. All the secrets are being shared... in order to become an effective team. This outburst and emotional reaction can be a major problem for all those participating.

So, was it an individual action or was it a "planted" and "planned" action?

Aug. 12, 2012
10:50 pm JST

As far as individually, the action indicates an attitude of prejudice which is not acceptable in Olympics even if he/she won the event to be the best for that particular tournament. It is NOT "his" stage to express such prejudice, totally unrelated to the event. I doubt his personal character as a human being and a sportsman.

Aug. 12, 2012
11:00 pm JST

Aug. 12, 2012
11:29 pm JST

This article is basically a blog piece, they didn't even bother to do a proper poll and now they claim a vast majority of SK support the actions

Well, Korean press confirms what this article is saying.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2012/08/400_117241.html
Also, this article is rather funny...
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2012/08/136_117207.html

Aug. 12, 2012
11:41 pm JST

I admire Koreans for their tenacity but sometimes that tenacity turns into hardheadedness. This hardheadness is the reason many Koreans are unable to recognize the unsportsmanlike action of one of their Olympians.

Aug. 12, 2012
11:43 pm JST

Uhm, it seems the links I posted from The Korea Times don't work...Anyway, if you are interested, read the articles "Is IOC overreacting?" and "Japanese say Korea will likely continue winning streak against Japan in football".
The second one is pretty hilarious.

Aug. 13, 2012
12:31 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
12:42 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
01:04 am JST

Separation of sports and politics aside (it basically died in 1936, and again in 1956, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1980 1984 and 1988 http://www.topendsports.com/events/summer/boycotts.htm) and the fact that Koreans do NOT like to lose at anything, ever, as far as I can tell NO-ONE has pointed out the whole uselessness of this protest. The banner was in KOREAN so for all the world (that's the stuff outside of the peninsula) knew it could have read, "I had the hots for Hara of Kara" (well, who could blame him?). It would have been better if the IOC and the world media had said nothing. That he'll be a hero in Korea is obvious. That anyone outside of Korea will care is reality. Also reality is that he is short a medal and probably a lot of commonsense. An unbelievable act from a national leader in the first place and an jingoistic vision-byte by the player. Dumb and dumber.

Aug. 13, 2012
01:08 am JST

He should be banned by FIFA and the IOC for at least 12 months. Otherwise every Olympian would feel the right to hold up political messages after every win. Imagine at the next Olympics, 'Las Malvinas' or 'free Chechnya'.

And by the way, forget this headline and news piece. They merely trawled through the Korean internet blog trolls to find controversial comments. Research some global comments instead.

Aug. 13, 2012
01:53 am JST

Hikozaemon: "So what do you think - no medal, no exemption? Perhaps as you say - he doesn't care either way and would be happy to say goodbye to his girlfriend and family and sit on Takeshima for the next 3 years."

You mean Dokdo.

"The lengths thousands of Koreans go to in order to get out of military service (and why not, who wants to be in a war with the DPRK at any moment?) is well known,"

Stats, please. I have a brother-in-law who is Korean and is quite looking forward to his military service, as are all of his friends. Please stop pretending that because you would never serve for your country that those in other nations don't want to. You probably couldn't anyway, glued to that chair.

"is well known, and so they offer this to the under-23 soccer team - OF COURSE it is an added incentive. It is basically dodging a 3 year jail sentence."

For people with no intelligence and experience, such as yourself, yes. Personally I think the offer of avoiding military service, since it's mandatory, if you beat a nation of whiners is wrong. But they should be given the option of which branch they want to serve in, if you can understand that.

Aug. 13, 2012
01:56 am JST

TigersTokyoDome: "He should be banned by FIFA and the IOC for at least 12 months."

Isn't this a cut and paste from another thread? He should and has been barred from the medal event, and that's all. Imagine if you banned every person who did such things -- soccer would cease to exist in Europe, that's for sure. It would hurt Japan as well, though more slowly... they might have to rename Juudo as Judo, and Boxing as Bokushingu! ds

Aug. 13, 2012
02:09 am JST

Wait, this is too funny, It is good the press latched onto this incident, maybe Japan will understand the seriousness of the islands dispute for South Koreans. Because they are not playing with Japan at all. So if Japan wants to send their SDF to those isles too. Japan maybe biting off more than they can chew, I think other countries might join SK forces.

Aug. 13, 2012
04:16 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
05:30 am JST

In summary, Korean propaganda demonstrated in the Olympics field was a systematic campaign.

Most of Korean players enjoyed the propaganda by Park Jong-woo together with a smile, and never stop him

A Man who handed a sign with a political message to a Korean soccer player, Park Jong-woo, was wearing a small chest barge which shows a member of the Korean Association of Athletes or something.

In addition, Korean President Lee Myung-Bak decided to visit the volcanic outcrops in the Sea of Japan just before the match between Japan and Korea.

Moreover, Many Korean media reported the korean team prepared "Dokdo is korean territory" ceremony.
According to many korean media, at first, the korean team prepared "Dokdo is korean territory" ceremony
but Korean players themselves gave up this ceremony because they thought "Dokdo is Korean territory" was nothing special.
In an interview after the game, Korean forward Koo Ja-Cheol said definitely,"I planned to perform "Dokdo is Korean territory"ceremony
but I thought it childish to perform "Dokdo is Korean territory"ceremony because "Dokdo is Korean territory" was nothing special so we gave up this ceremony."
Without a doubt,there was not the slightest doubt that The Korean team had political intention to send out Korean political message that "Dokdo is Korean territory" from the first through the use of the London Olympics.

Taken together, the propaganda is organized crime, and all Korean team members must be sued for joint responsibility for it.

Aug. 13, 2012
05:49 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
05:55 am JST

Isn't this a cut and paste from another thread? He should and has been barred from the medal event, and that's all. Imagine if you banned every person who did such things -- soccer would cease to exist in Europe, that's for sure.

? No it isn't a 'cut and paste job' whatever that means. 'That's all'?? So you don"t believe that his idiotic and xenophobic political statement has no place whatsoever on a sporting field? Let alone at the Olympic Games! I'm not sure where you have been watching football recently, but I cannot recall any other idiot displaying inflammatory political statements?

It would hurt Japan as well, though more slowly... they might have to rename Juudo as Judo, and Boxing as Bokushingu! ds

? I really don't understand where that racist anti-Japanese sentence has any connection whatsoever with this news story?? You are merely finding any excuse to post something anti-Japanese.

Aug. 13, 2012
06:37 am JST

I think the young man was very brave and said what had to be said regarding Japan's unjustified territorial claim. I am glad he got off lightly.

If you want brave, then go and debate the issue with the Japanese. Instead of hiding behind a Korean language-only banner during the Olympic games. He said what had to be said for one side of the argument. The Japanese were respectful enough not to use a sporting celebration to make their statement.

Aug. 13, 2012
06:44 am JST

I compare this inflammatory action with the terrorism of the Munich Olympics. Remember that? That was also a political attack using the innocence of the Olympics. This idiot doesn't recognise the seriousness of previous political attacks during the Olympic games. Because of what happened at Munich we should crack down on any action such as this.

The real shame for him (and for Korea) is that these Olympics have been a huge success, bringing many different cultures and nations together. London has been buzzing. What kind of a twat would then walk around on the sporting field with a banner such as that. If the Koreans want to support him then they can f-off out of the next Olympics.

Aug. 13, 2012
07:04 am JST

This makes me laugh. At every Olympics there is more flag-waving than at a Nuremberg rally. There are national teams in national colors trying to get the biggest national medal count. Is it so surprising that someone gets carried away by a fit of patriotic idiocy? The sport has become a sideshow in a gigantic festival of national prestige.

Aug. 13, 2012
07:20 am JST

This makes me laugh. At every Olympics there is more flag-waving than at a Nuremberg rally. There are national teams in national colors trying to get the biggest national medal count. Is it so surprising that someone gets carried away by a fit of patriotic idiocy? The sport has become a sideshow in a gigantic festival of national prestige.

How on earth can you compare the biggest mass-murderers in modern history and their right wing doctrine, with Olympic athletes purely representing their home nation with their national flags? So you compare the Swiss, the Kenyans, the Swedes, and the Dutch with the nazi party? You are just making excuses for a Korean who has just gatecrashed the Olympic games with his right wing statement.

Aug. 13, 2012
07:37 am JST

I don't think this article is accurate. I am in Seoul and know how to read Korean very well and the online articles show about 55% against Park's actions and 45% for. All of my Korean friends think he was stupid to do that at a big international event because first of all political acts are banned at the Olympics and second Dokdo is already Korean (why make an issue of it?)

By the way, all these people here acting more anti-Korean than rightist Japanese are pathetic IMHO.

Aug. 13, 2012
08:44 am JST

Sir_EdgarAug. 13, 2012 - 07:37AM JST
I don't think this article is accurate. I am in Seoul and know how to read Korean very well and the online articles show >about 55% against Park's actions and 45% for. All of my Korean friends think he was stupid to do that at a big >international event because first of all political acts are banned at the Olympics and second Dokdo is already Korean >(why make an issue of it?)
By the way, all these people here acting more anti-Korean than rightist Japanese are pathetic IMHO.

They are a natural response to the pro-Souh Korea nationalist who constantly post here.
They would be pathetic only if they were posting on Korean sites.

Aug. 13, 2012
09:06 am JST

Indeed - Juuichi Jigen mentioned, Korean press is already running an interview with the Korean captain where he openly admits (in that magical language, Korean, that no one else will ever understand!) that the team originally planned to do a team "Takeshima is Korean" ceremony after the game, which some players were against and stopped.

Now THAT would have been funny... In the end, only one raving ultra-nationalist player couldn't control himself.

And rightly so - last thing we need is players in sports events pulling up history/politics to inflame already loud enough nationalist hate during the Olympics.

Aug. 13, 2012
09:52 am JST

Those islets are just stupid pieces of rock sticking up out of the water. Arguing over these islands is like two children fighting over jelly beans. Everyone should just dessert the islands and let both the South Korean and Japanese military use them for target practice. Couple rounds of live firing should reduce the islets to bottom-of-the-sea rubble so that fish and crab can use it for spawning--something that's actually useful.

Aug. 13, 2012
10:12 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
10:43 am JST

The neutral term for the islets (not islands) is Liancourt Rocks. You can all make yourself sound less biased in your arguments by refering to them as such. I've done a fair amount of research into the issue of ownership and still refuse to take sides with either country as both governments pick and choose which parts of history they want to include/ignore in their arguments. I will however side with the Japanese in their method of dealing with their claims to the islets - which asides from the people of Shimane and the ultranationalists is pretty much nothing. I've surveyed plenty of Japanese people during my time here, and none of them care about what happens to the island. The only time they think about it is when it appears on the news in some issue like this where the general response is: "Oh, not this again." and then they move on with their lives. In South Korea (or at least in Seoul where I was for a year) it is pretty much hard to go out in public anywhere for the day without encountering some form of "Dokdo" propaganda in the city whether it be in subway stations (if you haven't seen the hateful pictures they had their indoctrinated children draw to put up on the walls in a station you should) or in window fronts of stores. To say that these news reports claiming the "majority" of South Koreans approve are unfounded and biased to web comments is wishful thinking. "Dokdo" is a large part of the South Korean identity. And since it has been under there control since the end of World War 2 thanks to Syngman Rhee's "Peace Line" with no evident threat from the Japanese military in sight, there is no logical reason for them to continue to remind themselves that it is theirs. Did you see any Americans waving signs that said "Washington is ours!!!"? Of course not. That would be ridiculous. This was terribly poor sportsmanship by one player, but the blame is not his alone. He is a creation of South Korea's nationalism machine.

Aug. 13, 2012
11:14 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
11:55 am JST

TigersTokyoDome: "I'm not sure where you have been watching football recently, but I cannot recall any other idiot displaying inflammatory political statements?"

Really? You don't remember soccer fans holding up a racist sign towards an Iranian player because they don't agree with Iran's nuclear program? Did you also forget about people chanting against Japan's biggest GK Kawashima shouting "Kawashima Fukushima, Kawashima Fukushima!"? That's just for starters.

And no, I don't think the entire team or a nation should be barred because of the actions of one player, or else, once again, there would be no soccer whatsoever -- Switzerland would certainly be barred, for one. The US team would be barred as well (thanks to the Twitters by the one woman).

Aug. 13, 2012
11:56 am JST

Aug. 13, 2012
02:03 pm JST

It's funny to see people so vehemently criticizing Korean nationalism, but ignore Japanese colonialism, expansionism, brutality and whitewashing of history. I wonder which one you think is worse...?

For many Koreans, Dokdo is like the "last stand". They are not going to put up with another Japanese incursion. That's why they're so passionate about it. Having been cheated out of their country in the late 19th century and feeling helpless and ashamed of their weakness, Koreans want Korea to become a strong nation. Dokdo represents this sentiment.

And that's why Japan will never get the islets they call "Takeshima" without war. It's very clear.

Aug. 13, 2012
04:00 pm JST

This Dokdo banner incident barely made a blip in the western media. Far more publicity was given to the badminton game-throwing and bawling SK fencer.

Since the entire Olympics is an exercise in nationalistic flagwaving and chest-beating, it's not surprising something like this would happen. SK volleyball players have also done this before at the Beijing Olympics, but it didn't make ripple then.

Aug. 13, 2012
07:42 pm JST

It's funny to see people so vehemently criticizing Korean nationalism, but ignore Japanese colonialism, expansionism, brutality and whitewashing of history. I wonder which one you think is worse...?

Japanese colonialism - I guess you are referring to the 1940's? (70 years ago)
Expansionism - again, I imagine you mean during the 1940's.
Brutality etc, etc.

That has all been dealt with a long time ago and the economic, life and political repercussions already handed out. This however, is now. This Korean Olympic football player walked around with an inflammatory political statement during the Olympics in 2012, not 75 years ago.

If your reasoning is in the minds of the majority of the Korean population of 2012 then I guess the Koreans will forever feel hatred against the Japanese, even though none of these Koreans ever experienced any war with Japan. How sad and what a narrow-minded racist view that is.

Aug. 13, 2012
08:10 pm JST

Its not the war that irritates the post war generation. Its the Japanese government still claiming that the island still belongs to them that is annoying.

Maybe if you actually read the post I was responding to you, would have read all those snidey little comments about Japanese colonialism and brutality during the war. Thus, my response to it.

I have never taken a side on this ridiculous argument over a ridiculous crop of rocks in the sea. And the idiot Japanese politicians are as bad as their Korean counterparts. However, I was incensed that an Olympic athlete has used the games to walk around the pitch with his political statement.

Aug. 14, 2012
06:23 am JST

vg866 and Korea is claiming that they will defend these rocks to the death against Japan. This is all local politics used to gain in the polls. Second Korea is well known for their insane hatred of Japan. They can not let it drop, how about the words of the Lords prayer. "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Aug. 14, 2012
09:14 am JST

The point in this incident is not the fact there's a territorial dispute or who owns or should own them. The point is, this was a political statement at the Olympics, where such statements are not allowed. The Olympics was not the appropriate place to do so, and rightfully, the Olympics doesn't allow these kinds of political displays/messages.

The fact that the vast majority of South Koreans do not understand that, is disgusting and disturbing. I'm not saying this because I support the Japanese POV. I'm saying this because they are so deluded that the vast majority do not understand that these statements at the Olympics are inappropriate.